Tipping

One of the most perplexing things for the traveller is when and how much to tip. Here in Italy / Sardinia people don't really tip, people are paid for the job they do and that's that. It is almost slightly insulting to tip, a sign of superiority!

In New York a few years ago I sat outside a bar in Times Square and had a sandwich and a beer with a friend. The bill came to $45 and I gave a $50 bill and said keep the change. The waiter shouted at me very agressively and said that in New York a 25% tip was obligatory, and my tip was not enough. The world's richest country cannot afford to pay its workers so they have to rely on the charity of the customer!? Wierd!

So I wondered what is the policy of tipping where you live, and what do you do?